European Red List of Habitats A sneak preview on the assessments of all terrestrial, freshwater and benthic marine habitats in the EU DG ENV, unit D3 CGBN, 22.9.2016

European Red List of Habitats Objective: an overview and assessment of all habitats in the EU28 and EU28+, complementing information reported on Annex I habitats of the Habitats Directive Structured underpinning information for each habitat Multipurpose: EU2020 Biodiversity Strategy, MAES, restoration work , …. First ever European Habitats Red List! Service contract by DG ENV of 30 months, just about to end – final deliveries to become available in October Budget: 1,5 mio euro Contractor: Alterra & IUCN plus

Scope Assessments on two levels: EU28 & EU28+ EU28+ including Iceland, Switzerland, Norway & the Balkan countries Marine: Baltic Sea, North East Atlantic, N-Mediterranean Sea & Black Sea

Habitat Classification Following a Feasibility Study a habitat typology based on the hierarchical EUNIS Habitat Classification (level 3 for terrestrial and level 4 for marine) was used All in all: 490 habitats assessed 233 natural and semi-natural terrestrial habitats 257 benthic marine habitats Relationship with Annex I habitats is complex: 1:1 relationship is only the case for a few '16% of terrestrial & only 1 type in the marine). The relationship is however described for all Annex I types.

Working Method Data were provided by territorial experts in each country or regional sea Assessments were coordinated by an expert group Terrestrial habitats: Coastal (30 habitats) Freshwaters (26) Mires & bogs (13) Grasslands (53) Heath & scrub (38) Forests (42) Sparsely vegetated (31) Marine habitats: Baltic Sea (61 habitats) North East Atlantic (86) Northern Mediterranean Sea (47) Black Sea (63)

Assessment method Assessment Categories & Criteria based on a modified version of the IUCN (2013) Guidelines for the Red List of Ecosystems

Results: 233 Terrestrial Habitats Overall results reveal 37% habitats threatened (in top 3 threat categories) in EU28, 32% in EU28+

Mires & bogs Grasslands 84% threatened 53% threatened

Forests Heath & scrub 29% threatened 17% threatened

Pressures & Threats Overall, the most severe and widespread threats to terrestrial & freshwater habitats are: Agricultural intensification (Grasslands and Heathlands & Scrub) Urbanisation (Coastal habitats) Modification of hydrological functioning (Freshwaters & wet Forests) Intensive forestry (Forests) Land abandonment (Grasslands & Heaths) Climate change impacts are more difficult to assess but already visible in Freshwaters, Mires & bogs, Forests and high mountain Sparsely vegetated habitats

Results: 257 Marine Habitats 19% of marine habitats are threatened (top 3 threat categories) in EU28, 18% in EU28+

Baltic Sea NE-Atlantic Exception: Low proportion of Data Deficiency

Black Sea Mediterranean Sea High proportion of habitats were Data Deficient but, for habitats with sufficient data, the majority were threatened

Main pressures on marine habitats are common across the regional seas

Outputs of the Red List Two publications (in hard copy & pdfs), flyers, poster Assessment fact sheets for 490 habitats (pdf & database) full habitat description images distribution maps links to other classification systems occurrence and trends in range countries threats & pressures restoration potential Territorial data (Excel spreadsheets)

Applications of the Red List The Red List and its underpinning information can be used for a wide range of analysis (including spatial), for example…. ..in conjunction with the MAES project and MSFD the Red List can: show which habitats are at risk from the key pressures help meet restoration targets estimate time frame for restoration or recovery etc.

Thank you for your attention! Products from this contract will be available soon on DG ENV website and EEAs Eunis website

Criteria & Categories